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Valencia recalled from Triple-A Norfolk

5/19/13: Danny Valencia lifts a double to center field off Matt Moore to lead off the bottom of the third inning

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles recalled infielder Danny Valencia prior to Sunday's game, and the right-handed hitter got the start at designated hitter in the team's series finale against Rays lefty Matt Moore.

Valencia, who found out about the promotion before Triple-A Norfolk's game on Saturday, has a slash line of .306/.339/.600 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 40 games for the Tides this season, including seven home runs in his last 10 games and a line of .324/.381/.838 against left-handed pitching.

"Danny's got a chance to play two of three days," said manager Buck Showalter, with the Yankees expected to have a lefty starter in either Monday or Tuesday's game. "See what he does. [He] was doing well down there, as are a lot of guys. We had two or three guys between who to [call up]. As usual, [Norfolk manager] Ronny [Johnson] was the deciding factor."

In his Major League career, the 28-year-old Valencia has hit .316/.359/.472 in 326 plate appearances against lefties, and he said Sunday morning he hoped to carry over the recent success from Norfolk.

"The streak that I was on down there was probably one of the better streaks I've ever had in my career," said Valencia, who will wear No. 35 for the Orioles. "I felt good. I felt like any time they gave me a mistake to hit, I hit it pretty hard. It was a good feeling, and hopefully it carries over."

Valencia is primarily a third baseman, although he can play some first and appeared in a couple of games in the outfield recently for Norfolk. With Ryan Flaherty's demotion, the Orioles had Yamaico Navarro making his third consecutive start at second base on Sunday. Navarro, who was recalled from Norfolk last week, figures to get the bulk of the playing time over Alexi Casilla.

"When [Chris] Dickerson is in the lineup, I want to keep a runner on the bench," Showalter explained when asked about Casilla's limited look. "So some of it is to have some versatility on our bench. And we've already seen it can impact a game. So that has something to do with it.

"And like I told you when I started Yami [on Friday], I want to get a feel for what he is and what he may be able to do. And the only way to do it is to run him out there."